Magic Stones

Magic Stones, developed by MGA Games, presents a pixelated aesthetic reminiscent of popular block-building games. The game's backdrop features a subterranean mine setting where a blocky miner character, looking like it was pulled straight out of a voxel-based universe, stands beside the reels. The symbols on the reels themselves continue this theme, with card values and thematic icons like pickaxes, minecarts, and various colored gemstones rendered in a deliberately blocky style. The soundtrack is, thankfully, not a chiptune derivative, but a more ambient piece, and while that is welcome, it is unfortunately forgettable.

The visual design may not appeal to everyone, but it does create a cohesive atmosphere. However, one could argue that the pixel art style, while trendy, might not necessarily be the best fit for a slot game, as it can sometimes make the symbols harder to distinguish quickly.

Core Gameplay Mechanics

Magic Stones utilizes a 5×3 reel layout with 10 fixed paylines, where wins are awarded from left to right. The Wild symbol, represented by the miner himself, substitutes for all symbols except the Scatter. This is a standard setup, but the devil is in the details.

The game introduces a unique accumulative symbol mechanic. Each reel has a crystal and a counter at the top. When a symbol with an accumulating icon lands on a reel, the counter for that reel increases by one, up to a maximum of three. The counters are tied to the bet amount, meaning that changing your bet will also change the counters' values. This creates an interesting dynamic where players might be tempted to stick with a certain bet level to build up the counters, adding a layer of strategy to what might otherwise be a simple spin-and-win affair.

Another interesting feature of the game, which is not described in the help section, is that the counters do not reset to zero after each spin if there was no accumulation in the previous spin. This means that if you spin the reels and no accumulating symbol lands, the counters will remain at their current values. This also means that the player can see how close they are to triggering the free spins bonus.

Bonus Features: Free Spins and More

The Scatter symbol, depicted as a blocky miner's helmet, is the key to unlocking the Free Spins feature. Landing three or more Scatters anywhere on the reels triggers the bonus round. The number of Free Spins awarded is determined by adding 5 to the sum of the counters on the reels where the Scatters landed. For instance, if Scatters land on reels with counters at 2, 1, and 3, you would receive 5 + 2 + 1 + 3 = 11 Free Spins.

During Free Spins, any winnings are accumulated, and the maximum possible prize is 2100 times the bet. If the total accumulated prize reaches this limit, the round ends immediately, and any remaining Free Spins are discarded. It is worth noting that this is a relatively low maximum win for a modern slot game.

The Wild symbol takes on additional significance during Free Spins. Each Wild that lands during the bonus round is added to a cumulative scoreboard. If you manage to collect four Wilds, you are awarded an extra 10 Free Spins with a 2x multiplier applied to any wins involving Money symbols. Getting four more Wilds grants another 10 Free Spins with a 3x multiplier, and a final set of four Wilds awards yet another 10 Free Spins with a 5x multiplier. The multipliers only affect prizes associated with Money symbols, which appear as minecarts filled with gold. This is an important detail that players should be aware of, as it means that the multipliers do not apply to all wins during Free Spins.

The final mechanic is the Buy Bonus button, which allows players to purchase 10 Free Spins directly. The price of the Free Spins varies depending on the bet amount. When purchasing Free Spins, the crystal counters are disabled in both the Main Game and Free Spins. This option appears to be activated by the operator, so it may not be available in all versions of the game.

Magic Stones is a slot that will likely appeal to a specific subset of players – those who enjoy the blocky aesthetic of games like Minecraft and are looking for something a bit different. The accumulative symbol mechanic is a clever addition that adds a layer of strategy and anticipation to the gameplay. The Free Spins feature, while not revolutionary, offers the potential for decent wins, especially with the accumulating multipliers.

However, the game is not without its drawbacks. The maximum win of 2100x is quite low, and the multipliers only apply to wins with Money symbols. The pixel art style, while visually consistent, may not be to everyone's taste.

Ultimately, Magic Stones is a niche title. It's not a bad game by any means, but it's also not a game that will appeal to everyone. If you are an experienced player looking for a slot with a unique visual style and some interesting mechanics, Magic Stones might be worth checking out. If you prefer slots with higher potential payouts or more traditional aesthetics, you might want to look elsewhere.